previously paid

USAGE SUMMARY

"previously paid" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to refer to something that someone had already paid for prior to a certain point in time or activity. For example, "All previously paid fees will be refunded within two weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"No material that was previously paid has been made free.

The Guardian

Both larger sizes were previously paid 30.7p per kwh.

The Guardian

They all previously paid an average of 23.66p per litre.

Independent

BP has previously paid out a further $5.84bn to people and businesses harmed by the spill.

The Guardian

Why? A. The world has not previously paid attention to the early stages of the disease.

The New York Times - Health

"The energy savings is just tremendous," he said — about 25percentt less than he previously paid.

The New York Times

Lehman employees were previously paid with large amounts of stock, now almost worthless.

The New York Times

Sites previously paid about $2.5 million to the leagues for such licenses.

The New York Times - Tech

An app like Xero can do work we previously paid accountants to do.

The Guardian

Xerox itself previously paid a $10 million penalty to settle the S.E.C. accusations.

The New York Times

Britons previously paid cash or took out a loan from a high street bank.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about reimbursements, use "previously paid" to clearly indicate that the expense was incurred and settled before the reimbursement request.

Common error

Avoid mixing tenses. If you're using "previously paid", ensure the rest of your sentence maintains a past tense context to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously paid" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by a past participle. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English, to refer to something already settled.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

23%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "previously paid" is a versatile expression used to indicate that a payment has been made at an earlier time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in diverse contexts. Its primary function is to provide clarity on the timing of a payment, which is especially useful in discussions related to reimbursements, refunds, or financial reporting.

As evidenced by the Ludwig examples, this phrase is most frequently encountered in News & Media and Academic writing. While it maintains a neutral register, allowing it to be seamlessly integrated into both formal and informal communications. Remember to ensure tense consistency when using this phrase.

Synonyms like "already paid" and "paid in advance" can serve as effective alternatives, though subtle differences in emphasis may exist. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use "previously paid" to enhance the clarity and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

already paid

Uses a more direct term for 'before'.

paid in advance

Focuses on the timing of the payment being before a service or product is received.

paid earlier

Highlights that the payment happened at an earlier time.

formerly paid

Emphasizes that the payment occurred under a past condition or arrangement.

paid beforehand

Similar to 'in advance', but perhaps with a stronger implication of necessity.

earlier remittance

Uses a more formal term, "remittance", for a payment made at an earlier point in time.

settled previously

Uses a different verb, "settled", to imply that a debt or invoice has been cleared at an earlier time.

funds remitted earlier

Specifies the "funds" instead of generally implying payment, emphasizing the monetary aspect and timing.

previously remitted payment

It emphasizes the fact of payment and uses the term remittance.

past payments

Highlights the payments as an event from the past.

FAQs

How to use "previously paid" in a sentence?

You can use "previously paid" to indicate that an amount was paid at an earlier time, for example: "Owners who "previously paid" for frame repairs will be eligible for reimbursement."

What can I say instead of "previously paid"?

You can use alternatives like "already paid", "paid in advance", or "paid earlier" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "previously paid" or "paid previously"?

Both "previously paid" and "paid previously" can be grammatically correct, but "previously paid" is more common. The choice depends on the intended emphasis and sentence structure. "Previously paid" functions as a unit modifying a noun, while "paid previously" places emphasis on the action of paying.

What's the difference between "previously paid" and "already paid"?

"Previously paid" emphasizes that the payment occurred at some point in the past, while "already paid" suggests that the payment is complete and requires no further action. They are often interchangeable, but the nuance can subtly shift the focus.